Those who wear veils that cover their facial features from October may have to pay a €150 fine.

Other measures in the new rules include a one-year obligatory integration course including German language tuition for migrants who have a good chance of staying in Austria. The laws also encourage asylum seekers to do unpaid charitable work, with the aim of preparing for the labor market.

The government proposed the measures, which the far-right Freedom Party of Austria criticized for not going far enough and the Greens slammed for going too far, earlier this year.

The coalition comprised of Chancellor Christian Kern’s Social Democrats and the People’s Party, which was meant to govern until 2018, collapsed last week with the resignation of Vice Chancellor Reinhold Mitterlehner.

wow

They can wear what they like, I couldn’t be more uninterested, quite frankly.

Posted on 5/17/17 | 9:28 AM CEST

Celeste

Got to agree. What a woman wears is up to her, not politicians.

Yet another attack on personal freedom within the eu.

Posted on 5/17/17 | 9:32 AM CEST

Jason Johnson

about time countries under threat realise this type of clothing can be used by those seeking to avoid detection. in the Uk a few years ago 2 female police officers were killed by 2 armed somila immigrants, one was captured and arrested the other escaped the Uk under a Burqa, astounding given this was after 9/11 and with increased airport security, but as no law allowed for the face vail to be removed what could border guards do?

Posted on 5/17/17 | 9:34 AM CEST

RER

1. Did anyone notice the glaring error of the photo caption? “Jewish” ????!!!
2. It is not about fashion…it is a political statement separating themselves from their host community. So why can’t women and men dress as they please in Saudi Arabia? No one seems to come the aid of those who want to wear shorts or short sleeved shirts!

In the US, you can not cover your face as a normal method of dress. For Halloween and such you can. Otherwise, it poses a security threat.

Posted on 5/17/17 | 10:29 AM CEST

S.Alexander

@wow

I think it’s rather symbolic – “You have come here, we welcomed you – please adapt to our culture and do not try to impose yours on us.” That’s the message. Burka is a cultural thing – banning it is conveying the message above. I can see things getting even hotter if this cultural enclavisation is not defused. Germans said it pretty clear that when if they come and are welcomed they should take up the host country culture and not viceversa. They are not joking (the rarely are) and they are right.

When in Rome, do as Romans.

Posted on 5/17/17 | 10:45 AM CEST

wow

@Jason Jhnson I think UK can ask them to remove the veil as far as I am aware. Women are allowed to see other women. There are women pat down guards at all airport security. I have never been patted down by a male, always a woman.

Is this not just a bit sensational that it happened once and under conditions not in the UK, where we can ask them to show a woman officer in a separate room their face and identity and any pat down needed by a female as already happens?

@S.Alexander I don’t think it makes any statement. It really never enters my head. What is it to me? It matters nothing to me what someone else wears. Theresa May has already stood in Parliament and said we are going to ignore any ECJ ruling on this and ignore all our European neighbours. I agree with the PM on this matter. Anyone can wear what they like. It’s not any of my business! We’re not in nanny state. The only laws we have about clothing is that one needs to not be indecent. That is the only existing law. They are abiding by the law. Making up a whole new law?….changing the goalposts?…no that’s not fair. Our British culture has one law really about this and they already abide by it.

I have to say, I think it is hilarious that it is Britain that is not bothered about this whatsoever, given the intense european propaganda lies against us recently!

Posted on 5/17/17 | 12:53 PM CEST

wow

I’d prefer the banning of male cyclists in lycra please.

That can get pretty obscene, so is under existing laws.

Posted on 5/17/17 | 1:00 PM CEST

Ap

Very sensible measures. Makes one wonder why these were not implemented before.

Posted on 5/17/17 | 1:05 PM CEST

Tom Cullem

The fine is a joke. They will pay it, go home, and go back to wearing the veils. Time to reclaim Europe for Europeans who actually ARE European. Repatriation to the last known country of origin for the entire family. Migrants appearing for asylum hearings who are clearly deeply conservative – back to the migrant camp.

If Europe does not take a stand soon, it will within 50 years be barely recognisable as European.

Posted on 5/17/17 | 3:19 PM CEST

guilherme

Wow,
what is indecent depends on the acceptation of the majority, it can be the full nakedness or to be fully veiled. Just “do as the Romans do”. The Lycra of the cyclists is accepted by the majority, so it is not obscene.

Posted on 5/18/17 | 1:47 AM CEST

wow

@guilherne

Being fuilly veiled is the opposite of obscenity.

Obscenity is very specific actually, it is not just being ‘offended’ because you don’t like it! Obviously the lycra is a joke.

I’m not wanting to change any existing laws to accomodate; but I’m not wanting new one’s either!

If it fits in with the laws we’ve had for decades, then just leave people be is how I feel about it.